
food web
A food web is a complex network that shows how different organisms in an ecosystem are interconnected through feeding relationships. It illustrates who eats whom, with plants serving as the base, providing energy to herbivores, which are then consumed by carnivores and omnivores. Unlike a simple chain, a food web highlights the multiple roles species play and the many paths energy can take through the ecosystem. This interconnectedness helps maintain ecological balance, as the survival of one species often affects many others. Overall, food webs reveal the intricate relationships that sustain life in a community.